Penn State wrestling schedule: Lions to host Drexel during 2024-2025 season
Penn State wrestling will soon return to the mat to defend its NCAA championship. With the regular season fast approaching, the 2024-2025 schedule is coming into focus. The Nittany Lions, who are led by longtime head coach Cael Sanderson, have not yet announced their full schedule. But, other programs across the country are doing so. And, the latest one features Sanderson’s side.
Drexel will travel to Rec Hall on Sun., Nov. 17 to take on the Nittany Lions. That dual meet could be the regular season opener for the program. That will be a busy weekend for the program. It will have some wrestlers competing at the Army Black Knight Invitational the day before on Sat., Nov. 16. And, it will also have at least two competitors in the NWCA All-Star Classic that same day. Junior Levi Haines and sophomore Shayne Van Ness are both set to wrestle in the annual event that returns to Rec Hall. From previous BWI reporting:
According to FLO Wrestling, Haines, a junior, will wrestle Ohio State’s Rocco Welsh, who is a sophomore. That’s notable, of course, because it is the latest signal that the Pa., native is moving up to 174 pounds this season. FLO ranks him No. 2 at that weight and Welsh No. 3. Four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci, who beat Welsh 2-0 in the national finals a year ago, is moving up in weight this season. It’s likely that he’ll go to 184 pounds to try and become the NCAA’s first five-time champ.
The other matchup involving Penn State announced Monday is the first indication that Van Ness will be able to compete this winter after having surgery earlier this year. Flo’s No. 2 ranked wrestler at 149 pounds will battle No. 3 Ty Watters, a sophomore from West Virginia. The Mountaineer finished fourth at NCAAs a year ago.
Reviewing what we know about the 2024-2025 Penn State wrestling schedule so far
As noted above, it will still be another few weeks until the full 2024-2025 Penn State wrestling schedules comes out. But, here’s what we know so far:
Nov. 16: NWCA All-Star Classic/Army Black Knight Invitational
Nov. 17: vs. Drexel
Dec. 8: at Lehigh, 2 p.m. (PPL Center in Allentown)
Dec. 15: vs. Wyoming
Dec. 21-22: Collegiate Wrestling Duals (Nashville, Tenn.)
Feb. 21: vs. American
There will be eight Big Ten matches, as well. Four are at home and four are on the road. The dates and times for those are not yet out. But, the opponent list is:
Penn State wrestling home Big Ten matches: Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland
Nittany Lion wrestling road Big Ten matches: Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio State, Rutgers
